It’s unrealistic for some of us to think we will be continuously and endlessly inspired in the kitchen. If you are, kudos! That’s awesome. Please cook for me 😊

So what do we do when we are uninspired? (Whether for a week or a lifetime…) Like most areas of healthy living there are simple ways to gently nudge us back towards our preferred routines. Here are three things I do when I am uninspired in my cooking endeavors:

1. Return to basics: choose a protein, a vegetable, a carb and a sauce. Throw them together and hope for the best.

2. Clean out your fridge. Toss any expired foods from your pantry. If they’re foods you won’t eat that are not yet expired, give them to a hungry friend. Clearing out clutter and things you’re never going to eat will make space for fresh foods that are more appealing!

3. Peruse either a favorite or a new cookbook, choose a SIMPLE recipe and try it. Bonus points if you can find two recipes that use overlapping ingredients so you can try new things without the excess ingredients sitting lonely in the fridge for weeks afterwards.

Sometimes you have to create momentum before creativity joins the party. Start small and simple and rebuild momentum, one vegetable at a time.

Good luck out there!